Remembering

(not Mr. Scrooge... the other kind of Ebenezer)

Remembering

Decoration Day is generally considered to have begun after the America Civil War to commemorate the soldiers who died during that terrible conflict. Graves of the fallen were “decorated” with flags to show respect and gratitude. Later officially changed to Memorial Day, the former name still lingers in some circles. Parades, civic events, speeches concerts and services in local cemeteries keep the traditions and solemn nature of the holiday alive; befitting the great sacrifice made by so many.

The Israelites were known to erect markers memorializing times and places that God had intervened on their behalf.  One such was the raising of the “Ebenezer” after God confounded the Philistines with a loud thunder and threw them into a panic at Mizpah.  Israel was blessed with a prolonged time of peace after that victory. 

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”” 1 Samuel 7:12

Perhaps we ought to assess our own lives on a regular basis, looking for the times that God has intervened on our behalf.  We may not set up a large stone to remember it by…but then again we might. Whatever means of memorializing God’s blessing we choose, it’s the remembering that’s important and the willingness to share the story of that blessing with friends and family for generations to come.

Here I raise my Ebenezer; here by Thy great help I’ve come. And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, 
safely to arrive at home. - “Come thou Fount of Every Blessing”

Thanks for all you do.

Brian

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Volume 7, Number 10

Watching

(it's fun to watch your kids when they don't know you're looking!)

Watching

Everybody (or at least most) loves a surprise!  My evening commute found me passing in the general vicinity of my daughter’s dance class, and I decided to stop and make the after-class pickup to give Mom a break.  I sat in the busy waiting room full of parents and watched as she came out of class.  She was clearly not looking for Dad…peeking out the windows then sitting down in the middle of the floor to change shoes and throw a dress over her leotard.  I watched with a smile on my face, just waiting for her to notice that I was there. She was safe and she wasn’t alone. It did take a couple minutes, but eventually she noticed that Dad was in the house… and smiled and ran to me.

“The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day; nor the moon by night.”  Psalm 121:5-6

The Lord watches over his children just as I did that day. He’s there even though we don’t realize it. He smiles as He tracks our accomplishments. He sees the good decisions we make. He gazes with pride as we get ready for the next challenge ahead.  And when we do finally look His way with a smile and run to Him,  His joy is complete.

No we’re not alone… and we shouldn’t be afraid. 

Thanks for all you do.

Brian

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Volume 7, Number 9

taking responsibility

(things don't happen in a vacuum...someone needs to be responsible)

Taking responsibility

This week has brought allegation of misdeeds in various parts of the United States governmental bureaucracy.  I don’t suppose that comes as a shock to most folks…history is filled with shoddy work, dishonesty, self-enrichment and many other dishonorable outcomes in government.  Sad, but true.

But this isn’t about red-blue, right-left or politics at all.  In fact, what seems to bring about the most consternation is that no one is willing to accept responsibility for what has happened.  It’s a litany of deflecting, pointing fingers, parsing words and blaming faceless “low level” staffers.  Harry “the buck stops here” Truman must be rolling over in his grave.

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, 
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

Unfortunately the very same attitude creeps into our lives every day.  We abdicate responsibility for both things we have done and things we ought to have done.  We walk past the spill in the office kitchen because someone else will get it.  We point to circumstances for our bad attitudes or our inability to get into shape. We blame the boss or the interference of coworkers for our failure to get that promotion.  We pass the buck to our parents for raising us incorrectly.  And we resist saying we’re wrong and we’re sorry… to the peril of our relationships.

Stop.  Take responsibility.  Receive the mercy.

Thanks for all you do.

Brian

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Volume 7, Number 8

more than a miracle

(miracles are not really about Olympic hockey games)

More than a miracle

Have you ever seen a miracle?  Not an amazing buzzer-beating shot in a basketball game…but rather the genuine article, a disease gone, an addiction removed immediately and forever, that sort of thing.  I sure hope I do someday, but so far I haven’t with my own eyes.  But I do have family members, friends and others I trust who say they have…and I believe them.  Jesus’ ministry on earth was replete with miraculous signs and wonders, used not merely to prove his power, but always to prove a larger point.  Perhaps none was more startling than the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

“Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”  When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  John 11:41-43

Lazarus was blessed to have more time on Earth… more time with his family…more time to tell those he met about Jesus.  But at some point in the future Lazarus died…again.  The gift of new physical life was finite.  We are right to pray for miraculous intervention in our lives and those we care about.  But even the most mind-blowing event alone cannot give us eternal life.  That gift comes through faith in Jesus alone.  It takes more than a miracle.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1

Thanks for all you do.

Brian

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Volume 7, Number 7